MediaTek vs Sony: Image Processing – Same Sensor, Who Wins?

Today MediaTek showed off its advanced imaging processing at the launch of their new high-end Octa-Core LTE processors in Shenzhen, China. Taking Sony on head-to-head, MediaTek showed the same IMX220 sensor that we find in Sony’s Xperia XL, comparing it to their reference design. The demo yields some surprisingly interesting results. Nicole Scott gets hands in China for Mobile Geeks:

MediaTek is pushing image quality in a similar way to Qualcomm, providing the tools to enable manufacturers to deliver a great device, but it’s up to them to take it. Wait…that doesn’t sound like it’s in the best interest of the consumer. So that’s what I love about the camera offering on the MediaTek MT6595 & MT6795, they are essentially forcing the manufacturer to use the Sony IMX220 20.7 MP sensor if they want access to 480FPS slow motion. If you want to play with the big boys you have to bring the big boy hardware.

MediaTek is also showing that they are stepping up their game software wise, they are taking this same Sony sensor and showing how they are doing a better job with the data than Sony. We have some photos below, but we also took a video so that you could check it out in real time.

Checking out the the Sony Xperia Z2 is a favorite here at Mobile Geeks, and that’s because it has an absolutely fantastic camera. In the demo below you’ll see the Sony Xperia ZL in HDR mode. The MediaTek Reference design is on the right, the Sony XL is on the left. Here we are focusing on the background in the window, which leaves the doll’s faces too dark, even though HDR is running on the Sony.

If you look at the MediaTek Reference Design on the Right you’ll see that the faces are too dark.

In the next photo, the HDR is still off on the MediaTek Reference Design but the focus has been placed on the faces which means that the background, or the photo in the Windows is now blown out.

HRD on the MediaTek Reference Design is Off, but the Focus has been placed on the Face, which means that the background in now over exposed.

Finally we have HRD On in both devices, this is where you can see the image processing at work. Same Sony Sensor but MediaTek is using their own unique image processing suite, which gives richer colors and equally at vibrant skin tones. Well, at least as vibrant as a Barbi’s Skin tones can be!